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Warsaw -

Warsaw, Poland's historic capital, stands on the Vistula River. It's one of Europe's great cultural hubs, a fact acknowledged by UNESCO—the Old Town is a World Heritage Site.

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Old Town Market Square -

What better way to begin seeking a perspective on Poland than by exploring the city's historic center? The Old Town Market Square is the true heart of this venerable hub. What you see today is an authentic restoration of its pre-Second World War appearance.

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Copernicus Science Centre -

In Warsaw with the kids? Let them loose in the fascinating Copernicus Science Centre. There are over 450 exhibits to interact with, a multimedia planetarium to explore, and a robotic theater to play in.

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Museum of the History of Polish Jews -

Poland's Jewish heritage is celebrated—and commemorated—with this excellent cultural facility, which stands on the site of the former Warsaw Ghetto.

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Palace of Culture and Science -

Completed in 1955, the Palace of Culture and Science stands as a monumental reminder of Stalinist-era architecture and of Soviet influence over Poland.

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Wilanow Palace -

Dating back to 1696, this former royal palace located in the Wilanow district of Warsaw is one of Poland's most significant buildings. The palace's museum imparts its fascinating history.

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Warsaw Uprising Museum -

Dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising, this extraordinary museum chronicles the courageous effort by the Polish underground resistance to liberate Warsaw from German occupation during the summer of 1944.

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Royal Castle -

Warsaw's Royal Castle is one of the most distinguished buildings in the Polish capital. A royal residence that formerly served throughout the centuries as the official home of Polish monarchs, it's now a much-vaunted UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Lazienki Park -

Residents and visitors alike unwind in the serene surroundings of Lazienki Park. It serves as a bucolic setting for palaces, villas, classicist follies, and monuments. Pictured is the beautiful Palace on the Isle.

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Wieliczka Salt Mine -

Away from Warsaw, the rest of Poland greets visitors with a collection of truly remarkable destinations and visitor attractions. One such place is the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Excavation of sodium chloride began in the 13th century, and production only stopped in 2007. Today, the underground labyrinthine of passageways and caverns constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Auschwitz-Birkenau Camps, Oswiecim -

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Camps represent one of the darkest chapters in human history. Touring the former Nazi extermination facilities is a compelling, though overwhelmingly unsettling, experience. UNESCO preserves the site as it more or less appeared during its murderous operation.

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Malbork Castle -

This impressive 13th-century Teutonic castle and fortress located near the town of Malbork is, according to UNESCO, the largest of its kind in the world by land area.

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Crooked Forest, Gryfino -

One of the weirdest-looking woodlands found in Europe, the Crooked Forest amazes with a grove of oddly-shaped pine trees. The forest is a protected natural monument.

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Wawel Royal Castle -

Kraków, Poland's second-largest city, is certainly worth a few days of your time. Its Old Town is crowned by the majestic 14th-century Wawel Royal Castle. This was the country's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated as such in 1978.

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Kraków Cloth Hall -

Kraków's historical gems extend to the stunning Renaissance-era Cloth Hall. It's one of the city's most iconic structures and is also protected by UNESCO.

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Wawel Cathedral -

Wawel Cathedral is nearly 1,000 years old. Part of the Wawel castle complex, the building was spared the wartime destruction suffered elsewhere in Poland and stands as one of the finest examples of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical architecture in Europe.

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Schindler's Factory -

Another Second World War-era must-see attraction is Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory. Now housing two museums, the building was used as a location by Steven Spielberg during the filming of 'Schindler's List' (1993). Pictured is the original office used by the German industrialist's secretary to write out the famous list.

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Wolf's Lair, Gierloz -

War historians and the curious make their way to Gierloz in the Mansurian Woods to gaze upon the remains of the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's East Prussian headquarters during the Second World War. It was here on July 20, 1944 that an assassination attempt was made on the Nazi leader's life.

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Tatra National Park -

Escape the rattle and hum of urban life by trekking into Tatra National Park. The region is known for its lakes, especially Morskie Oko (pictured). UNESCO has declared the park a biosphere reserve.

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Slowinski National Park -

Make for Slowinski National Park and believe you're treading across a Central European desert. Not quite, perhaps. But the enormous sand dunes the park is famous for are nonetheless bizarrely breathtaking.

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Bialowieza Forest Reserve -

Poland's lush, verdant Bialowieza Forest Reserve is home to 800 European Bison. The forest itself enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status.

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Biskupin archaeological site -

Journey into the past by exploring the Biskupin archaeological grounds. This open-air museum stands over the site of a prehistoric settlement. A replica Bronze Age fort lends authenticity.

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Wroclaw -

Wroclaw in southwestern Poland is all ancient gables and spires. Linger here and absorb numerous historical landmarks, including the market square, Cathedral Island (pictured), Wrocław Opera, the National Museum, and the Centennial Hall, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Bieszczady Mountains -

In the back country, meanwhile, seasoned hikers will enjoy their sojourn into the Bieszczady Mountains. The forested range continues into Slovakia and Ukraine.

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Ojcow National Park -

It's always worth wandering into Ojcow National Park for a selfie near the weathered Skała Biała Ręka, known in English as the White Hand Rock.

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Leba -

The Baltic seaside town of Leba welcomes thousands of sunseekers in summer. But arrive here out of season and the vast expanse of beach is virtually yours.

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Isle of Usedom -

Likewise, the Baltic Sea island of Usedom is a favorite vacation destination for locals in high summer. The island is anchored between Germany and Poland, in the country's historic Pomerania region.

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Gdańsk -

The Baltic Sea port of Gdańsk made international headlines in 1981 as the seat of Lech Wałęsa's pro-democracy Solidarity movement. Wałęsa later became a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and president of Poland. Notable visitor attractions include the Abbot's Palace, National Museum, and the recently opened Museum of the Second World War.

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Zalipie Village -

For a quaint and quirky diversion, stroll through Zalipie Village in southern Poland and admire the painted cottages and their decorative motifs.

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Torun -

Round off your Poland city run by taking in the Legoland veneer that is Torun. Actually, this is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, valued for its Brick Gothic, Mannerist, and Baroque architecture.

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Karpacz -

Bear in mind that Poland is a fantastic winter destination. Karpacz, a town in the Karkonosze Mountains in southwestern Poland, is one of the country's leading ski resorts. It's defined by Mount Sniezka, which appears as a huge icing-flecked cake after snowfall.

Sources: (UNESCO) (Britannica) (Academy of Achievement)

See also: Destinations that are even more beautiful in winter

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